Sutton

Sutton's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population passed 190,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Sutton increased by 5.8%, from just under 180,000 to 190,000.

The addition of just over 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sutton was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sutton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sutton increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This suburban area had a higher average age than London and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 6,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 16% of people in Sutton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disablity in Sutton

This area saw London's largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Across the region, Bromley saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 90% in 2001 to 90% in 2011).

In 2011, just over 9 in 10 (90%) in Sutton reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 91% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.4% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sutton

The number of people in Sutton that described themselves as Christian increased from about 130,000 in 2001 to just over 110,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 70% to 58% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across London (from 58% to 48%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Sutton that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 30,000 in 2001 to about 47,000 in 2011 (from 17% to 25%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 13,000 to about 14,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.4% to 7.1%.

Just over 8,000 people (2.1%) said they were Hindu, up from just over 3,700 in 2001 (4.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Sutton decreased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Sutton, but at a slower rate than in nearby Merton.

In Sutton, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 74% in 2001 to 68% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Merton decreased from 68% to 59%.

Across London, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 56% to 48%.

Private renting in Sutton increased from 9.3% to 16%, while the rate of social housing remained close to 15%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across London

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Sutton

The number of people in Sutton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 9,700 in 2001 to just over 22,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 5.4% to 12% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 13% to 18%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Sutton from the White ethnic groups decreased from just over 160,000 in 2001 to just under 150,000 in 2011 (from 89% to 79%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 4,600 to about 9,100 (from 2.6% to 4.8%).

Just over 7,100 people (2.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 3,700 in 2001 (3.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Sutton increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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